Gun Control & RKBA

Atypical Liberal

(5,412 posts)

20. Of course it has meaning.

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 03:34 PM

Dec 2011

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Of course it has meaning.

It means that well-regulated militias are necessary to the security of free states.

Why are they necessary? Because they provided for a decentralization of military power - just as the founders had decentralized power in the rest of the government, creating separate, independent branches for the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative functions of government.

They knew the problems of concentrations of power and sought to structure the government to prevent them. Militias were how this was done with military power.

Sadly, the militia system was usurped in 1903 with the Dick Act, which federalized the state militias.

No doubt the founders anticipated the potential corruption of the institution of the militias which is why the second amendment specifically reserves the right to keep and bear arms to the people, and not to the militias.

No matter what you think about militias and their role in the second amendment, there is simply no avoiding the fact that the right to keep and bear arms is a right reserved to the people. This will be true even if there are no militias, just as there are none today.

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What is RKBA? [View all] Ruby the Liberal Dec 2011 OP

Right to Keep and Bear Arms REP Dec 2011 #1

Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Sirveri Dec 2011 #2

Are you following up on your response in 'Help and Meta' about dungeons? petronius Dec 2011 #3

On DU2 that was called the 9/11 forum. TheWraith Dec 2011 #4

What? Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #19

Hmm. Not seeing it now, but the original statement of purpose listed some crazier stuff not welcome. TheWraith Dec 2011 #22

Yeah, sure am. Ruby the Liberal Dec 2011 #5

Thanks all! Ruby the Liberal Dec 2011 #6

The central concern of Timothy McVeigh. nt onehandle Dec 2011 #7

For some of us it's a concern Upton Dec 2011 #8

It's the only part of the 2nd Amendment "gun enthusiasts" ever read. baldguy Dec 2011 #9

You mean.. Upton Dec 2011 #11

Gun control advocates don't make the mistake of believing "a well regulated militia" has no meaning. baldguy Dec 2011 #13

Lets pretend for a moment... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #16

Of course it has meaning. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #20

Strill beating that dead horse? N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2011 #12

you are too kind ;) iverglas Dec 2011 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author GreenStormCloud Dec 2011 #10

Your most important right. (and everyone elses) ileus Dec 2011 #14

"Guns" are hardly our most important right. Hoyt Dec 2011 #17

The ability to resist oppression by force guarantees all your other rights. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #21

Glad you think so. I think free speech in a modern, civilized society is much more important. Hoyt Dec 2011 #23

Great.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #25

If you think free speech will be surppressed in US, you can leave your guns at home till revolution. Hoyt Dec 2011 #29

Well, when you go to the convention next year, just step into the "free speech zone" ... DonP Dec 2011 #32

What you fail to understand is... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #34

You may live to see that proven untrue. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #26

Oh, so you ARE calling for taking up arms against citizens. That's really going to help anything. Hoyt Dec 2011 #30

I'm not calling for it, I'm predicting it. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #31

Worked pretty well a few times in history when it has been needed. We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #33

So, do your propose anarchy/terrorism with your guns to get your way? Hoyt Dec 2011 #35

Not what anyone is even remotely saying We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #36

Again, I'm not proposing anything, I'm predicting. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #42

It's the only part of the 2nd Amendment "gun grabbers" want to ignore. ileus Dec 2011 #15

Whoops - didn't mean to kick over an anthill here. Ruby the Liberal Dec 2011 #18

This? This is nothing, mere "lively debate". PavePusher Dec 2011 #24

I already have you on subscribe Ruby the Liberal Dec 2011 #28

Right to Keep and Bear -- ANTLERS?!?! Nuclear Unicorn Dec 2011 #37

No worries of concealed carry there! n/t discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2011 #38

rude toter? Nuclear Unicorn Dec 2011 #39

Talk about... discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2011 #40

ROFL!!!!! PavePusher Dec 2011 #41

I was born in Pasco County; that's how we do things down there when we're short of hog tusks.nt SteveW Dec 2011 #43